Category Archives: Bourbon County

Bourbon County, Entertainment, Fort Scott, Gordon Parks Museum, History

I Needed Paris will make its premier screening on Friday, October 4, Ellis Family Fine Arts Center.

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Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College, Host Screening of  Tall Grass Film Festival- Selected Documentary, I Needed Paris

 

Fort Scott, Kan. September. 27, 2024 – The documentary I Needed Paris will make its premier screening on Friday, October 4, 2024 at 11:00am to 12:00pm at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center. This film is an official selection for the 2024 TallGrass Film Festival in Wichita, Kansas. The screening is free admission and open to the community to the attend. This screening is part of the 21st Annual Gordon Parks Celebration.

 

We are very fortunate to have this film make its debut here in Fort Scott.

 

“We are very fortunate and excited to host this film and having the film’s premiere debut here in Fort Scott.,” said Gordon Parks Museum Executive Director, Kirk Sharp. “This is a great opportunity for our everyone community to have a chance to see this film that has been officially selected for the 2024 TallGrass Film Festival for free. We encourage everyone in the community to attend.”

 

This film follows the journey of a small group of photography students from the Gordon Parks Academy in Wichita, KS, through Paris, France, in late May 2024, traversing the same streets and neighborhoods as Gordon Parks when he worked in the Paris bureau of Life magazine in the early 1950s. These students along with other photographers will take a deep dive into Gordon’s world of fashions, portraits, street photography, music and poetry. They will also incorporate some fashion images using the same type of camera Gordon used – twin lens reflex film cameras. The screening is free and open to the community to attend.

 

Produced and directed by Michael Cheers. Associate Professor, Photojournalism, School of Journalism and Mass Communications, San Jose State University. Cinematographer/Editor, B. Kameron Lawson.

 

For more information about the film or the Gordon Parks Celebration visit us at

https://www.gordonparkscenter.org/2024-celebration-schedule or the museum by email at [email protected] or by phone at 223-2700, ext. 5850.

 

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Bourbon County, Entertainment, Fort Scott

FortFest Blues Festival Starts Tonight, September 27

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FortFest 24

Blues Festival

This weekend, Rain or Shine!

Friday, September 27th-29th

Riverfront Park in Fort Scott
NEW this year!

Expanded Kids Fair & Gospel Celebration on Sunday

Click HERE for the FortFest Facebook page!

Like & follow the page for weather updates!
See event flyer below!

Encore performance at Holmtown Pub after the final band plays at FortFest!

Holmtown Pub

Tim Hoggard & Bow-Legged Roosters

Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
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Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
 
Art, Bourbon County, Youth

Supplemental Art Classes For Private & Homeschooled Kids!

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Supplemental Art Classes

For Private & Homeschooled Kids!

Sign Your Kids Up Today!

LAST WEEK TO SIGN UP!

Registration closes September 30th!

We Offer Afterpay!

Choose “Afterpay” at checkout

and you can break up the cost into

4 easy interest free payments!

(interest free for 1 year)

Sign up on our website, call the studio or drop by!
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Copyright (C) 2024 T.E.Freeman Studio. All rights reserved.
Bourbon County, Entertainment, Fort Scott, History

Bourbon County Community Theatre Seeks Actors for Voices from the Grave

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Bourbon County Community Theatre is still holding auditions for Voices from the Grave, an original production based on stories from Bourbon County’s history.

An open audition will take place October 2nd from 5:30 to 6:30 PM at the Fort Scott high School Auditorium.Those who audition must be age 14 or over and rehearsal times will be scheduled in small groups with the Director, Regen Wells.

Voices from the Grave is from 6-9 p.m. on Oct. 26 at Riverfront Park in Fort Scott, KS. Guests will enjoy a guided walking tour of short acting vignettes centering around stories of murder and mayhem in Fort Scott. Scenes were written by the students in the Advanced Drama class at Fort Scott High School and are based off of stories from local author Brian Allen’s books about Fort Scott.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students and are available from bcct.ludus.com in Fort Scott. Tour times must be pre-scheduled and run every 15 minutes. Parents must accompany children under the age of 14.

More information can be found on the Bourbon County Community Theatre Facebook page or by contacting Wells at 620-215-3510.

Bourbon County, K-State Extension

Starlite Family and Consumer Education September minutes

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Starlite FCE
September minutes
The September meeting of the Starlite FCE was held at the Presbyterian meeting room.  President Glenda Miller called the meeting to order and Vice President Joyce Allen led the club in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and the club collect.  Ten members and one guest were in attendance.  The members reported that they had volunteered 40 hours and had recycled 490 pounds of paper and cardboard.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved.  Karen Peery reported that the Fall Follies will be held at the United Methodist Church in Humboldt on October 22nd at 6:00.  Eight members are planning on attending.  Doris Ericson presented the Treasurers report and passed out membership papers for renewal.  Karen also announced that cookies for the State Meeting can be left at the Extension Office.
 Glenda recognized Letha Johnson as our September birthday.  She also read a Thank you letter from Macie Hueston and presented our Citizenship minute.
 Old business consisted of the State FCE Meeting.  Karen Peery, Doris Ericson and Deb Lust will be attending.  Glenda also reminded us that our Operation Christmas Child boxes will need to be brought to our October meeting.  Karen presented the time line to turn boxes in at First Baptist Church in Mound City and presented several Dollar Tree items that would go well with the boxes.
Karen presented a quilt that she had purchased for Bourbon County’s basket for the State meeting, Deb Lust moved that we donate $25 for the quilt, Joyce Allen seconded the motion, motion carried.
 New Business was talking about the next year’s program books, Doris Ericson will be getting them for the club.
 After the meeting the member enjoyed a presentation by Tara Solomon on “Pathway to a Healthy Kansas”.
 Refreshment were of pumpkin roll, nuts and water were provided by Claudia Wheeler and Ida Ford and enjoyed by all.
Prepared by
      Terri Williams
Bourbon County, Entertainment, Exercise, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Ice Skating Is On The Horizon For Christmas On The Bricks: 1st Fundraiser Is Oct. 9

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Diane Striler and her husband Dean at last year’s Christmas on the Bricks. Submitted photo.

There will be an added event coming to the 2nd Annual Christmas on the Bricks event,  ice skating!

The rink will be a daw to Fort Scott and help with local commerce, according to Diane Striler, who is spearheading the rink project.

The rink will be in the new Gathering Place Pavilion on North National Avenue of the Fort Scott Downtown Historic District.

Striler has been talking to people since the first of 2024 about the project, an ice skating rink with no ice (it is a synthetic surface) that is not dependent on cold weather since the surface does not need to be frozen.

An anonymous couple is donating approximately $18,000 of the $37,000 total for the rink which includes the skating surface, railing, 60 skates of various sizes, and a sharpener for the skates.  Additional donors have totaled approximately $3,500, and she has applied for a Fort Scott Area Community Foundation Grant.

In addition to those for the rink, other funds will need to be raised to purchase materials to build a storage facility.  Striler has talked to a group that is willing to build the facility. It will be used to house the skates and provide a place for skaters to check in, sign their waivers, make payments, and access the rink.

“The whole project will be funded by private donations and grants, there are no tax dollars involved,” she said.

To bring the rink to Fort Scott, Striler had to get approval from the City of Fort Scott Commission and have a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the City and the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Foundation, which is overseeing operations.

The kick-off for the opening of the rink will be the weekend of Christmas on the Bricks, Dec 6-8th.  The plan is for the rink to be open that weekend and the following Thursday and Friday evenings, Saturdays, and part-day Sundays through January 5th.  The cost to skate is $5 per person.

“We have talked to an individual who may help run the rink and oversee individuals involved,” she said.  “We would like to allow different organizations to help staff the rink and receive part of the proceeds for their groups.”

In addition, Striler has been talking with Fort Scott Physical Therapist Meredith Tucker about creating some aids to use at the rink to make it more accessible for children with disabilities.

The rink can be reused for up to 15 years if cared for, she said.

 

First Fundraiser For the Project

To add to the needed ice skating rink funds, the first fundraiser is 6 p.m. on October 9 at the Liberty Theatre, 113 S. Main, Fort Scott.

It is called a Puzzle, Pizza & Pub Challenge!

The first team of 4 people to complete a 300-piece puzzle, a large pizza, AND a bucket of beverages (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) wins!

The cost is $100 per team ($25/person)

The event is Wednesday, October 9th, at  6 p.m.

at the Liberty Theatre in downtown Fort Scott.

Register a team by calling or stopping by the Chamber at 620-223-3566 or online here! Limited to 20 teams!

If you can’t attend and still want to donate to the rink: click here to make a payment to the Fort Scott Area Chamber Foundation, 501c3, via PayPal or Venmo @fschamberfoundation, please note the Rink in the notes! Checks may also be made payable to the FS Area Chamber Foundation and mailed or dropped off at the Chamber, 231 E. Wall St with Rink in the memo.

Submitted graphic of a similar skating rink being purchased from Kwik-Rink, Maple Grove, Minnesota.
Bourbon County

Drake Steps Down From Bo Co Coalition, New Leaders Starting on Oct. 2

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The next meeting of the Bourbon County Coalition will be October 2, 1:00 p.m. in the Conference room at the Scottview Apartments, 315 S. Scott. The agenda is attached.

After 24-plus years of working with the Bourbon County Coalition,  Billie Jo Drake is stepping down as a leader.

Travis Wilcoxen and Nick Johnson will be taking over as Co-Chairmen of the Coalition beginning with the October meeting.

Drake will remain on the board for one more year to ensure a smooth transition.

Nick Johson be chairing the General Membership meetings and will let members know at the October meeting which email you will need to use when you need to contact the Coalition.

“I have enjoyed my work with the Coalition and am confident that Travis and Nick will do a great job,” Drake said.

Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition

General Membership Meeting Agenda

 

October 2, 2024

 

 

  1. Welcome: 

 

 

  1. Member Introductions and Announcements:

 

 

  1. Program:  Dustin Emmett, Retain Outreach Coordinator for SEKANSASWORKS.

 

 

  1. Open Forum:

 

 

  1. Adjournment:  The next General Membership meeting will be November 6, 2024.

 

Bourbon County, Entertainment, Food, Fort Scott, History

Pioneer Harvest Fiesta Is October 3-6: A History of Rural American Culture

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Pioneer Harvest Fiesta began from an interest in rural American cultural history and some early members’ interest in steam power which they had experienced in railroad employment and farm use, according to Davin Reichard, Vice President of the PHF board.

“The PHF is an organization interested in equipment, machinery, and other technology characteristic of rural American culture particularly during the first half of the twentieth century, and in sharing this with others,” Reichard said. “Typical exhibits include steam engines, tractors and stationary engines, quilts, threshing machines and other farm equipment, hand tools, and other items used in rural life in the early to mid-1900s.”

The PHF organization began in 1956 and their first show was in 1957.

Visitors will experience educational and historic exhibits, refreshments, and live musical entertainment all weekend, according to https://pioneerharvestfiesta.com/

All three days are alive with Steam Engines, Blacksmiths, Food and Flea Market Vendors, Drag Saw Demonstrations, Tractors & Gas Engines on Display, Baker Fan Demonstrations, Tractor Pull, and a Garden Tractor Pull.  Quilt Show, Straw Bailing, Wheat Thrashing, Corn Husking/Shelling, Sorghum Making Demonstration, Rock Crushing, Saw Mill Operation, Car Show, and many more exciting events! It’s one great weekend to kick off Fall in the 4-state’s region! It’s the 68th annual Pioneer Harvest Fiesta, at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds in Historic Fort Scott, Kansas.

New at the event this year is a demonstration of sorghum cane processing and cooking.

Sorghum is an ancient grain and pro-planet protein source packed with nutrients. Sorghum is a versatile crop that can be grown as a grain, forage, or sweet crop and is one of the top five cereal crops in the world, according to https://www.sorghumcheckoff.com/sorghum-101/

Photo from Sorghum Checkoff.

This will be the second year of the car show at PHF.

The Bourbon County Fairgrounds are located at 2102 S Huntington Blvd., Fort Scott, KS 66701

The annual Pioneer Harvest Fiesta Parade is  Thursday, October 3 at 6 p.m. in downtown Fort Scott on Main Street.

The main fairground event is Friday through Sunday, Oct. 4 -6, 2024.

Admission

This year’s full weekend admission is only $5 per person and includes a collector button and the Friday Bean Feed at 5 PM. For children under age 12, admission is FREE, but admission does not include a button. Prior year collector buttons are available for $1.

Officers

Current officers of the Pioneer Harvest Fiesta Board are  President Craig Shikles; Vice President Davin Reichard; Secretary Betsy Readinger; and Treasurer Delphine Parks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bourbon County, Government

KDOT to replace pipe on K-31 at Blue Mound

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Weather permitting, on Tuesday, Oct. 1, the Kansas Department of Transportation plans to replace a crossroad pipe on K-31 within the city limits of Blue Mound. The work zone will be closed to traffic between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Drivers should use alternate routes around the daylong highway closure.

 

Persons with questions may contact KDOT Superintendent Shawn Denny, (785) 433-6115, or Public Information Officer Priscilla Petersen at (620) 902-6433.

 

 

 

Bourbon County, Government, Kansas

City of Bronson Awarded Placemaking/Recreation Grant From KS Rural Champions Program

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Governor Kelly Announces 14 Grant Recipients for Rural Champions Program

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced today the 14 grant recipients of the Rural Champions program’s second cohort. The selected Rural Champions will join a growing statewide network of grassroots individuals tackling critical projects in their respective rural communities.

“Since day one, my administration has been focused on the needs of our rural communities and the quality of life in every region of the state,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Creating the Office of Rural Prosperity was only the beginning of our support for rural Kansans and their needs. By developing the Rural Champions program, we are assisting communities to find local solutions to specific local challenges.”

Inspired by a Kansas Sampler Foundation report, the Office of Rural Prosperity, in collaboration with the Patterson Family Foundation, created the Rural Champions program as a way for rural communities to move the needle in areas where a lack of capital or other resources hinders necessary progress. The Rural Champions program provides a one-year wage stipend of $20,800 to each community, along with training and resources. Communities also will receive up to $25,000 at the end of the year to move into the implementation phase of their projects.

“The diverse challenges rural communities face are much easier to resolve when you have an individual specifically dedicated to their particular issues, which is why the innovative Rural Champions program is so important,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Investing in our rural communities means investing in our people, which benefits the entire state and elevates their towns in ways that might otherwise not be possible.”

The 2024-25 Rural Champions include:

Organization

Community

Project area(s)

Cardinal Community Foundation

Nemaha County

Community/Economic Development

Cheyenne Community Development Corporation

Cheyenne

Housing

City of Herington and CVB

Herington

Downtown Revitalization

Comanche County Economic Development

Comanche County

Grant Writing/
ED Regionalization

Grinnell-Promoting Pride & Progress

Grinnell

Downtown Revitalization

Harvey County United Way

Harvey County

Childcare

Healthy Bourbon County Action Team

Bronson

Placemaking/ Recreation

Hodgeman County Economic Development

Hodgeman County

Housing

Lane County Community Foundation

Dighton

Food Access-Rural Grocery

Legacy Regional Community Foundation

Cowley County

Food Access

Rooks County Healthcare Foundation

Rooks County

Workforce Recruitment

Stafford County Economic Development

Stafford County

Childcare

The Building Community

Fredonia

Community/Economic Development

United Way of the Flint Hills

Emporia

Homelessness

“The first round of Rural Champions provided a great opportunity for progress and impact in the communities and organization. We again received many outstanding applications — making the selection of these 14 projects very competitive,” Director of the Office of Rural Prosperity Trisha Purdon said. “We are excited to continue the development of the program and add to our network of learning with the new group of Rural Champions.”

Rural Champions will work with the Office of Rural Prosperity through project completion. At that time, information will again be compiled in the form of guidebooks to add to the library of projects and be made available to provide learning and support to additional communities.

More information on the Rural Champions program is available here. The guidebooks developed by the first cohort of Champions are available to review here.

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Bourbon County, Youth

Boy Scouts Meet Tonight at 6 p.m.

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Submitted photo.

The Boy Scouts are out and about selling popcorn!

The money from sales goes to help with the dues of the children.

If there is money left over from paying their dues,  it goes to purchasing their awards and camps. If you are interested in supporting the troop they will be having their weekly meeting at First United Methodist Church at 3rd and National tonight at 6 p.m.

“We will have some popcorn with us for sale. If you have a child interested in joining scouts feel free to stop by and check it out,” said Mandi Widder, who submitted the item.